Notorious Galway blackspot set for €8m upgrade
One of the most dangerous blackspot tourist roads in County Galway is to undergo a major upgrade as part of an €8 million investment.
The owners of bus companies have always complained about the narrowness of the road between Ballinderreen and Kinvara. It is narrow with some dangerous bends and there are places along the stretch of road where it is difficult for two large vehicles to pass each other.
The road will be widened and realigned. It will involve the compulsory purchase of lands along the route and this process will take place in the autumn.
It is something of a proud moment for local FG councillor Joe Byrne as his late father had campaigned for the upgrade of this road nearly two decades ago.
The late Fine Gael councillor from Kinvara Toddie Byrne had continually campaigned for this stretch of road to be improved as he knew the importance of it for the South Galway area.
He raised it at countless meetings of Galway County Council back in the late ‘eighties and early ‘nineties and despite strenuous efforts on his part, the funding did not come through for the project.
But now Cllr. Joe Byrne can take some degree of satisfaction all these years later and he said that his late father would be proud of what had happened.
The realignment works, which are due to commence in early 2015, will take in the townlands of Dungory West, Dungory East, Cartron, Ballycleary and Tooreen West.
The new road will have hard shoulders, unlike the road at the moment, and well as having a cycling path between the two locations – another tourist facility.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.